There were fireworks before East Grinstead's match against Stroitel Brest, the Belarussian Champions, but there was little sparkle on the pitch in the first quarter. Although the hosts secured a comfortable 5-0 victory, they had to wait until the 23rd minute for Andy Piper, the pick of the Grinstead forwards, to put them ahead. Mark Pearn increased the lead with a thunderous drive from the top of the circle.
At the other end Jack Marfleet took the ball off the line from just underneath the bar following a penalty corner, before Glenn Kirkham and Piper, with his second goal, increased the lead, all in an eventful second quarter.
In a largely uneventful second half there were few difficulties for Grinstead and Adam Jordan added a fifth.
KHC Dragons and Saint Germain, who are in Reading's Pool played out the closest match of the day with victory going to the Belgium side only 2-1 despite their considerable dominance.
Teun de Nooijer gave a masterful display including scoring 2 goals in Bloemendaal's 7-2 demolition of Lille.
Jan Marco Montag slotted in 3 penalty corners in Rot Weiss Koln's win against Glynhill Hotel Kelburne whose consolation goal was scored by Ben Peterson.
Pool B KHC Dragons (Bel) 2 Saint Germain HC (Fra) 1
Pool D East Grinstead 5 SC Stroitel Brest (Blr) 0
Pool G Lille MHC (Fra) 2 HC Bloemendaal (Ned) 7
Pool H Glynhill Hotel Kelburne 1 KTHC Rot Weiss Koln 8
PICTURES FROM TODAY'S MATCHES ARE ON OUR SISTER WEB SITE AT: www.HockeyImages.co.uk.
